Crisis, Decentralization, Cohabitation: Aspects of Change in France. A Summary of Colloquia Held at the Institute of French Studies, New York University, Winter-Spring 1987
As cohabitation marked its first anniversary this spring, it was clear the much-discussed power arrangement had brought important changes to French politics. The experience will certainly have a great influence during next year’s presidential elections and beyond, both by bolstering Mitterrand’s popularity and by presenting a new model for power division within the executive. Perhaps more importantly, it has clearly proven the adaptability and durability of the Fifth Republic constitution. The March 1986 elections, however, are but one of several junctures which can be seen as initiating a recent period of change in France. Like a Russian Matreshka doll nested within a series of ever-larger dolls, France today is living through at least three events of varying length that both reflect and bring about change: the crisis, decentralization and cohabitation.